On Friday, February 15, three passengers—Adewale Adedigba (52), Magnis Ashibuogwu (50), and Iwunze, Benjamin (30)—were arraigned for unruly conduct aboard Air Peace Flight No. P4 7579 from London to Lagos at the Magistrate Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Magisterial District.
The allegations are related to an incident that happened at around 8:00 PM on February 12, 2025. The offenders allegedly caused panic and public disturbance among passengers and crew by shouting during the flight, according to the police.
According to Lagos State’s 2015 Criminal Laws, Section 168(1)(d), their actions were considered a breach of public peace.
According to other accusations, the three illegally switched from their first designated economy class seats to the business class area without permission. The airline employees quickly intervened in response to this behaviour, which violated Section 4(1)(a)(b) of the FAAN Bye-Law 2005. They reported the event as soon as they landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja.
The passengers were officially charged and taken before the Airport Command-run court after being apprehended by airport police. To prevent such occurrences in the future, the prosecution, under the leadership of SP Oladipupo Taiwo, pushed for rigorous adherence to aviation regulations.
BrandSpur Nigeria news today reports that the defendants’ plea was not promptly recorded during the court session. Thus, the magistrate postponed the hearing until March 3, 2025.
With possible punishments like fines or incarceration, if the defendants are found guilty, the delay gives the defence and prosecution time to prepare their case. This instance highlights the increasing necessity for Nigeria’s aviation industry to police in-flight conduct rules more strictly. To guarantee the security and comfort of every passenger, industry experts have urged more knowledge and compliance. In addition to deciding the accused’s future, the hearing will establish a standard for similar cases in the future concerning disruptive behaviour on aeroplanes.
